Preparations have been under way at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum to preserve the aging main building and to completely update the permanent exhibition. The aim of the update is to ensure that the truth of the atomic bombing can be clearly and accurately communicated to the public, of which the majority now has no experience of war.
Renovations to the East Building commenced in March 2014, starting with the 1^st floor basement. An escalator will be newly installed and the office that had been on the 3^rd floor was relocated to the 1^st floor basement, so that the 3^rd floor can be used as an exhibition room.
Work on exhibition rooms from the 1^st floor to the 3^rd floor commenced on September 1, 2014. While the exhibition rooms in the East Building are closed during the construction work, temporary exhibitions showing the same content as the East Building exhibitions are being shown in the Main Building. The updated East Building exhibitions will be opened in 2016.
Work on the Main Building will take place in 2016—2017, after the renewal of the East Building is complete. The grand opening of both the East and the Main Buildings is planned for 2018.